Luca Guadagnino’s challengers film Venice 80 debuts

challengersLuca Guadagnino’s new film, Venezia 80, starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Feist, will be the opening film of the Venice International Film Festival, which will be held from August 30 to September 9. The film, Out of Competition, will have its world premiere in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema (Lido di Venezia).

In “Challengers,” Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a former tennis player turned coach: a force of nature who does no wrong both on and off the court. Married to a star athlete (Mike Faust – West Side Story) after a loss, Tashi’s strategy to rescue her husband takes a surprising turn when she encounters the now doomed Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) He happens to be his former best friend. and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend. As their past and present collide and tensions rise, Tashi will wonder what the cost of victory is.

“I am very excited to present my new film Challengers to the audience at the Venice Film Festival. It is a modern and powerful story, full of energy, love and self-confidence of the youth. Zendaya, Josh and Mike are completely original and fresh, bringing an aura to the screen that’s never been seen in their interpretations” Luca Guadagnino explained: “I can’t wait for the lido audience to dance to Colum’s tune Soundtrack by Trent and Atticus at the opening night of the eighth edition of the May exhibition. For me as a filmmaker, starting the festival is a dream come true, and I am very grateful to Alberto and the whole La Biennale di Venezia family for this award to the challengers.

For artistic director Alberto Barbera “Luca Guadagnino is one of the few Italian directors who has always been used to working with actresses and actors, both Italian and foreign, and every time manages to get the maximum result from each of them . Even when playing away from home, as is the case with the Challengers. Without setting limits to his creative energy, Guadagnino tackles themes such as love, friendship and male rivalry with lightness and sporting bravery, creating a thrilling and exciting show that is full of irony, sensuality and pleasantry. pure cinema

Luca Guadagnino returns to the Lido a year after filming “Bones and All,” a film that won him the Silver Lion for Best Director.